<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Measures to increase the share of renewables in heat generation, combined with increased energy efficiency provide a direct emissions reduction on the heating sector. Energy efficiency measures, as well as the role-out of sustainable heating technologies such as district heating networks have one key actor: insulation. However, state of the art insulating materials such as polyurethane or polystyrene have severe environmental drawbacks incompatible with today’s transition to the circular economy, and are the Achilles’ heel of the sector in terms of sustainability. Biobased and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) foam could be a promising replacement for fossil-based polymeric insulating foams. This study provides data on the mechanical behaviour of expanded PLA foam under different temperatures, which will help to assess its potential use as insulation where the foam is subject to heat.</p></abstract>

Measures to increase the share of renewables in heat generation, combined with increased energy efficiency provide a direct emissions reduction on the heating sector. Energy efficiency measures, as well as the role-out of sustainable heating technologies such as district heating networks have one key actor: insulation. However, state of the art insulating materials such as polyurethane or polystyrene have severe environmental drawbacks incompatible with today’s transition to the circular economy, and are the Achilles’ heel of the sector in terms of sustainability. Biobased and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) foam could be a promising replacement for fossil-based polymeric insulating foams. This study provides data on the mechanical behaviour of expanded PLA foam under different temperatures, which will help to assess its potential use as insulation where the foam is subject to heat.

Mechanical Behaviour of Polylactic Acid Foam as Insulation Under Increasing Temperature

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Measures to increase the share of renewables in heat generation, combined with increased energy efficiency provide a direct emissions reduction on the heating...

Mechanical Behaviour of Polylactic Acid Foam as Insulation Under Increasing Temperature

Published Online: Dec 13, 2019

Page range: 202 - 210

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2019-0090

Keywords
Circular economy, insulating foam, Polylactic Acid (PLA), thermal behaviour

© 2019 Lucia Doyle et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mechanical Behaviour of Polylactic Acid Foam as Insulation Under Increasing Temperature

Published Online: Dec 13, 2019

Page range: 202 - 210

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2019-0090

KeywordsCircular economy, insulating foam, Polylactic Acid (PLA), thermal behaviour

© 2019 Lucia Doyle et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Circular economy, insulating foam, Polylactic Acid (PLA), thermal behaviour